Exeter is one of the oldest cities in Great Britain. The Romans built a settlement here over 2000 years ago and surrounded it with a wide rampart. A good three quarters of it is still preserved. Today, Exeter's lively city center is located within the old city walls, with commercial and business districts as well as shopping streets.
The old cathedral in the heart of the city is a special sight. With its two Norman towers, 14th century west front and Gothic vaults, it is an impressive monument to Exeter's eventful history. The 15th century Guildhall is said to be the oldest town hall in England. Also worth seeing are the old customs house and the weavers' guildhall, as well as Mol's Coffee House, which was popular with Francis Drake and Walter Raleigh. To the west of Exeter lies Dartmoor, a wild marshland landscape with forests and mountains. There are many charming places to visit in the surrounding area and on the Devon coast, just 15 kilometers away. A highlight of the year is the Exeter Festival in July, when international artists present a colorful potpourri of cultures.
Members of the Exeter Twinning Circle visited Bad Homburg in 2010. The Circle maintains good contacts with the Kur- und Verkehrs-Verein. The reason for the visit was a birthday: the Kur- und Verkehrsverein was celebrating its 150th anniversary. The guests from Exeter brought greetings from the Lord Mayor. Wolfgang Herder, Chairman of the Kur- und Verkehrsverein, described the contacts with Exeter as "deeply rooted". Citizens support this partnership. The contacts between Exeter and Bad Homburg do not produce chance acquaintances, but are a serious effort on both sides to overcome the unpeaceful past and to position themselves together in a globalized world.
